I have a Rem 700 in .338 Edge. Border 28” match barrel with 6 riflings.
I’ve started out with a reamer from DE and it is throated to have a maximum col of 100mm with a 300SMK. I’ve loaded it at 99,8mm, so as you can see it is set almost at the lands.
(The reason for having a longer throat is that it looks more balaned – a big .30-06 –rather than setting the bullet very deep.)
Brass: Remington
Primer CCI MAG
Powder: Rhino 25, European type of Reloader 25
Load: 87.5grs- 90,5
Velocity: 2650- 2850fps.
My “problem” is that this is virgin brass, only necked up with the S bushing-die from Redding that DE provide, and I get a mark on the head from the plunger on <span style="text-decoration: underline">every single load</span>…!
I thought it was caused by soft brass, but has been told otherwise by some that I consider being experienced reloaders.
However, I find it hard to believe that I’m pushing the limit with the lesser loads!
It has to be said that the mark is hardly seen on the lightest load, but is still there! On the heavier loads, 89,5 90 and 90,5 it is more pronounced. (The last load is probably on the red line, if not past, due to the high speed in a 28” barrel. I donæt expect more than 2760-2800fps)
There are not any sing of flattened primers, and they are not especially wide (all primers flatten to some extent), nor is it cratered around the firing pin.
No heavy boltlifts. Easy extraction.
Not any sign that I'm pushing it..
Conditions were 500m above sea level, 3 degrees C (water freezes at 0 C) with the snow melting around the range, so it's not a sweltering hot summers day either..
The brass was very soft when I sized them, and looks stiffer now that they have been formed to the chamber. They had a lot of dents and I could use my fingers and press (hard) the case mouth oval, which I can’t do easily now after firing.
What bothers me is that I see the mark on every load, and I don’t want to ruin the rifles excellent precision by shooting to hot loads, but I still want to gain the Edge over other .338s...
Has anyone else experienced the same when loading for the edge, and is the problem due to soft brass?
I’ve started out with a reamer from DE and it is throated to have a maximum col of 100mm with a 300SMK. I’ve loaded it at 99,8mm, so as you can see it is set almost at the lands.
(The reason for having a longer throat is that it looks more balaned – a big .30-06 –rather than setting the bullet very deep.)
Brass: Remington
Primer CCI MAG
Powder: Rhino 25, European type of Reloader 25
Load: 87.5grs- 90,5
Velocity: 2650- 2850fps.
My “problem” is that this is virgin brass, only necked up with the S bushing-die from Redding that DE provide, and I get a mark on the head from the plunger on <span style="text-decoration: underline">every single load</span>…!
I thought it was caused by soft brass, but has been told otherwise by some that I consider being experienced reloaders.
However, I find it hard to believe that I’m pushing the limit with the lesser loads!
It has to be said that the mark is hardly seen on the lightest load, but is still there! On the heavier loads, 89,5 90 and 90,5 it is more pronounced. (The last load is probably on the red line, if not past, due to the high speed in a 28” barrel. I donæt expect more than 2760-2800fps)
There are not any sing of flattened primers, and they are not especially wide (all primers flatten to some extent), nor is it cratered around the firing pin.
No heavy boltlifts. Easy extraction.
Not any sign that I'm pushing it..
Conditions were 500m above sea level, 3 degrees C (water freezes at 0 C) with the snow melting around the range, so it's not a sweltering hot summers day either..
The brass was very soft when I sized them, and looks stiffer now that they have been formed to the chamber. They had a lot of dents and I could use my fingers and press (hard) the case mouth oval, which I can’t do easily now after firing.
What bothers me is that I see the mark on every load, and I don’t want to ruin the rifles excellent precision by shooting to hot loads, but I still want to gain the Edge over other .338s...
Has anyone else experienced the same when loading for the edge, and is the problem due to soft brass?
